Good News Florida

(BUFXBZ#MWE 4VJUF #PZOUPO#FBDI'- OEFV RUJ ‡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ealthy relationships Herein is the key to healthy relationships. I must make an alone relationship with God the number one pri- ority of my life. By building an intimate relationship with God, my life functions accord- ing to God’s design. Adam didn’t start having problems in his marriage and family until his relationship with God de- teriorated. People didn’t start having conflict with each other individually and on a national level until their relationship with God became dysfunc- tional. Don’t just isolate your- self from others out of fear. Isolate yourself from others so you can be alone with your heavenly Father. This is following the Jesus model. He had regular times and places when he withdrew from others to be alone with his father in prayer. Here Jesus would process his emotions, find comfort, strength and receive direction to re-engage with others. By the end of his brief 33 years on earth he had fully obeyed all of God’s law, which he summed up as love God and others. Obedience to God is all about relationships. The paradox of aloneness The paradox of aloneness is you have to learn to be alone in order to avoid being alone. In building an intimate alone relationship with God, you will learn all you need to learn about building healthy relationships with others. Your relationship with God is the safety net that gives you the courage to take the risk of attempting relation- ships. Like a trapeze net, it gives me the confidence. If the relationship fails, I won’t die or be seriously hurt – God will catch me. His love and ac- ceptance carries me through any relationship accidents. Learn to get alone with God, talk with Him in prayer and allow Him to talk with you through His word. Then you won’t fear being alone. Dr. John Hawkins, Sr. runs Gateway Counseling Center in Boynton Beach along with his son John Jr. He can be reached by visiting gatewaycounseling.com . The Paradox Of Aloneness (Continued from page 40) Palm Beach County